Recovery Time
Now that you are done with your operation, the next step is to get out of the hospital and get healthy again. The doctors will always provide you with an estimate of when they think you will be out of the hospital and recovered again. Keep in mind that this estimate is not always 100% true. Each person's body reacts differently to surgery -- some people recover faster and others not so much. So, remember that your body is different and that you might not fit right into the estimate from your doctors. Don't worry if your recovery time takes longer than the original estimate, because it just means your body is recovering slower. As your recovery continues, the doctors can always give you updates on your new estimated date of departure. But remember that, even when you get out of the hospital, you still are recovering so make sure you take it easy at first and ease your way back into things.
Communicating
One of the biggest parts of the recovery process is communication and honesty. I know how you feel -- you just want to get out of the hospital but, if you lie about how you feel, that puts you at risk. If you feel nauseous, tell them; if you still are sore, tell them. Communicating with your doctors and nurses is the only way to ensure that you will have a safe and healthy recovery. Trying to convince yourself you feel better than you do feel is bad too. I know I used to do this a lot when I was little. I would think: "oh, I feel so much better" when in reality I didn't. Doing this is bad because it puts you at risk.
Tips for recovery in the hospital
After your surgery, you will most likely have to stay in the hospital for a bit so the doctors can monitor you easily. During this time, there are some things that you can do that will help speed up your recovery and get you out of the hospital sooner.
1- Walk a lot -- Walking after your operation helps a lot. During anesthesia, your body goes to sleep. Walking a lot will help start up your body again and also help you feel a lot better. Try to start off with just walking to the door and then, as the days go on, do more and more until you are out of the hospital. It is also important to walk to avoid getting any blood clots in your body. Having a blood clot can turn really bad fast, so make sure you walk to avoid getting one. But, while it is important to walk, it is also important to rest. Do not over do it and, if you feel tired, then take a break. Of course, this also depends on the procedure you have had. For example, if you had surgery on one of your legs, you may not be walking as fast.
2- Breathe -- Breathing and taking deep breaths is really important in the hospital. It will help you feel better and make you healthier faster. The nurses will also ask you to cough a lot. If coughing hurts where you had surgery, use a pillow to shield that area and it won't hurt as much. Some nurses might also give you a breathing apparatus that will help you with coughing -- that is normal as they just want you to be healthy. When you have surgery, some fluid enters your lungs so they have you cough and breathe a lot to ensure that this liquid gets out of your lungs. If the liquid stays in your lungs, you will have a high risk of getting pneumonia which will just make your hospital stay longer.
Tips for recovery out of the hospital (in the area of the hospital)
Now, after you are released from the hospital, the doctors might ask you to stay in the area for a bit just to make sure that you are adapting well to being out of the hospital. If you live close to the hospital, then during this time you will be allowed to go home. But, if you are like me and do not live close, then they will ask you to stay in a hotel for a bit so they can watch you and make sure you are okay. During this time period, you will probably have a check-up or check-in (like a phone call) everyday with your doctor to talk and see how everything is going. After that, you can go do whatever you want for the rest of the day.
Some key things to remember:
1- Hydrate -- it is really important to make sure that you drink a lot of water especially after a surgery. If you get dehydrated, then you run the risk of getting really sick, which is not good for your body especially after an operation.
2- Keep moving -- don't stop moving around when you get out of the hospital. If you stay seated for too long you run the risk of getting blood clots, among other things. Your doctor will give you a date when it is okay to start exercising again but, until then, you should only be walking. Remember to also keep listening to your body!
3- Hygiene -- it is really important to stay clean after your operation. Try to shower at least once a day and make sure that you watch your scar (if you have one) to make sure it is healing the right way. If you think anything at all is wrong with your incision, call your doctor. It is better to be safe than sorry.
4- Bowel movements -- After surgery, some of the medications you are on could affect how and when you go to the bathroom. Some pain medications slow down yourcolon which will affect your bowel movements. This is normal and, if a pain medication you are on will do this, your doctors or nurses will tell you.
Tips for recovery at your home
Now, you are finally home. Even though you are home, do not forget about what the doctors told you. Still make sure you follow exactly what they say and do not forget to stay hydrated and watch your scar. Take it easy at first and keep your doctor informed about your condition and if anything gets worse. Remember to keep moving to avoid blood clots. On top of that, make sure you watch your lungs and that everything seems healthy. At this time you will now most likely be allowed to start some small exercise. This will be a walk or a light jog. It is important that you try and do this to keep your lungs moving and to ease your body back into working out and exercising. Remember that, even though you are out of the hospital, you are still in the recovery phase. Listen to your body and make sure you rest!
Recap:
Overall, the recovery process is long and can be confusing. If you have any questions just ask -- any doctor or nurse would be glad to answer your question. Remember to keep moving and stay hydrated and to always watch your scar to make sure it is okay. Don't try and trick yourself into thinking you feel better. Just communicate with your doctors and you will recover sooner.
Now that you are done with your operation, the next step is to get out of the hospital and get healthy again. The doctors will always provide you with an estimate of when they think you will be out of the hospital and recovered again. Keep in mind that this estimate is not always 100% true. Each person's body reacts differently to surgery -- some people recover faster and others not so much. So, remember that your body is different and that you might not fit right into the estimate from your doctors. Don't worry if your recovery time takes longer than the original estimate, because it just means your body is recovering slower. As your recovery continues, the doctors can always give you updates on your new estimated date of departure. But remember that, even when you get out of the hospital, you still are recovering so make sure you take it easy at first and ease your way back into things.
Communicating
One of the biggest parts of the recovery process is communication and honesty. I know how you feel -- you just want to get out of the hospital but, if you lie about how you feel, that puts you at risk. If you feel nauseous, tell them; if you still are sore, tell them. Communicating with your doctors and nurses is the only way to ensure that you will have a safe and healthy recovery. Trying to convince yourself you feel better than you do feel is bad too. I know I used to do this a lot when I was little. I would think: "oh, I feel so much better" when in reality I didn't. Doing this is bad because it puts you at risk.
Tips for recovery in the hospital
After your surgery, you will most likely have to stay in the hospital for a bit so the doctors can monitor you easily. During this time, there are some things that you can do that will help speed up your recovery and get you out of the hospital sooner.
1- Walk a lot -- Walking after your operation helps a lot. During anesthesia, your body goes to sleep. Walking a lot will help start up your body again and also help you feel a lot better. Try to start off with just walking to the door and then, as the days go on, do more and more until you are out of the hospital. It is also important to walk to avoid getting any blood clots in your body. Having a blood clot can turn really bad fast, so make sure you walk to avoid getting one. But, while it is important to walk, it is also important to rest. Do not over do it and, if you feel tired, then take a break. Of course, this also depends on the procedure you have had. For example, if you had surgery on one of your legs, you may not be walking as fast.
2- Breathe -- Breathing and taking deep breaths is really important in the hospital. It will help you feel better and make you healthier faster. The nurses will also ask you to cough a lot. If coughing hurts where you had surgery, use a pillow to shield that area and it won't hurt as much. Some nurses might also give you a breathing apparatus that will help you with coughing -- that is normal as they just want you to be healthy. When you have surgery, some fluid enters your lungs so they have you cough and breathe a lot to ensure that this liquid gets out of your lungs. If the liquid stays in your lungs, you will have a high risk of getting pneumonia which will just make your hospital stay longer.
Tips for recovery out of the hospital (in the area of the hospital)
Now, after you are released from the hospital, the doctors might ask you to stay in the area for a bit just to make sure that you are adapting well to being out of the hospital. If you live close to the hospital, then during this time you will be allowed to go home. But, if you are like me and do not live close, then they will ask you to stay in a hotel for a bit so they can watch you and make sure you are okay. During this time period, you will probably have a check-up or check-in (like a phone call) everyday with your doctor to talk and see how everything is going. After that, you can go do whatever you want for the rest of the day.
Some key things to remember:
1- Hydrate -- it is really important to make sure that you drink a lot of water especially after a surgery. If you get dehydrated, then you run the risk of getting really sick, which is not good for your body especially after an operation.
2- Keep moving -- don't stop moving around when you get out of the hospital. If you stay seated for too long you run the risk of getting blood clots, among other things. Your doctor will give you a date when it is okay to start exercising again but, until then, you should only be walking. Remember to also keep listening to your body!
3- Hygiene -- it is really important to stay clean after your operation. Try to shower at least once a day and make sure that you watch your scar (if you have one) to make sure it is healing the right way. If you think anything at all is wrong with your incision, call your doctor. It is better to be safe than sorry.
4- Bowel movements -- After surgery, some of the medications you are on could affect how and when you go to the bathroom. Some pain medications slow down yourcolon which will affect your bowel movements. This is normal and, if a pain medication you are on will do this, your doctors or nurses will tell you.
Tips for recovery at your home
Now, you are finally home. Even though you are home, do not forget about what the doctors told you. Still make sure you follow exactly what they say and do not forget to stay hydrated and watch your scar. Take it easy at first and keep your doctor informed about your condition and if anything gets worse. Remember to keep moving to avoid blood clots. On top of that, make sure you watch your lungs and that everything seems healthy. At this time you will now most likely be allowed to start some small exercise. This will be a walk or a light jog. It is important that you try and do this to keep your lungs moving and to ease your body back into working out and exercising. Remember that, even though you are out of the hospital, you are still in the recovery phase. Listen to your body and make sure you rest!
Recap:
Overall, the recovery process is long and can be confusing. If you have any questions just ask -- any doctor or nurse would be glad to answer your question. Remember to keep moving and stay hydrated and to always watch your scar to make sure it is okay. Don't try and trick yourself into thinking you feel better. Just communicate with your doctors and you will recover sooner.